Hulking, towering and masterful, Ghostface Killah’s “36 Seasons” is an old gangster’s tale.

There’s an anecdote about LL Cool J that says the hopeless romantic wanted to make songs like “I Need Love” for the rest of his career before Russell Simmons changed his image. If you can’t imagine LL Cool J in a muscle shirt crooning love songs to ladies in church hats, you’ve got Simmons to thank. This story comes to mind at the onset of “36 Seasons,”Ghostface Killah’s incredible latest album. This is the soulful, smoky vocal album we knew Ghost was bound to make. He gathers up a few of his friends and tells a ghetto super hero’s story about fending off foes, mending wounds and staking his place as the man on top.

The scene opens up with “Battlefield,” a track that proves not only is Ghostface out for blood, but he’s in the best shape of his rapping life. The production is veiled in old school Cadillac music with kung-fu movie appeal and Ghost just rides it out. You can’t go wrong with Bob Perry and Ghostface Killah and the characters they’ve woven throughout this tale (be sure to check for Pharoah Monche who plays a kick ass surgeon on “Emergency Procedure”) are detailed and intricate.

Bamboo, played by Kandace Springs, is at once the girl who got away, a damsel in distress and the ultimate prize. Her vocals are so misty blue it’s painful — in a good way. Ghostface Killah remains the protagonist on tracks like “Here I Go Again” and “Loyalty.” Though “Loyalty” is taken away by Kool G Rap’s classic lisp, Ghostface has the rhymes to carry the track.

It’s rare to find an artist who builds a complete album and, for one, who has been in the game for 36 seasons as Ghost has. What’s most surprising about this project is truly how imaginative Ghostface is. He melds with AZ on “Double Cross” better than Nas ever did and gives AZ way more shine. The metaphors are still intact, and Ghost is more brash than ever.

Hulking, towering and masterful, “36 Seasons” is an old gangster’s tale. Because he is the Ghostface Killah, the most powerful opponent of them all, he of course, gets the girl and the glory in the end. It’s a standout production (especially from The Revelations who cover the classic “Thin Line Between Love and Hate”) from all involved and a theatrical performance worthy of a standing ovation.

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Ru Johnson is an arts and culture music writer living in Denver. You can follow her on Twitter here.

The long-awaited exhibition will feature artifacts, stories and perspective on the historical role of brewing in Colorado's fortunes, from Adolph Coors' first experiments to (relative) upstarts and current titans such as New Belgium Brewing.